Writing tablet



Nov. 22, 1938.

H. J. WAECHTER WRITING TABLET Filed Oct. 5, 1937 .5 Sheets-Sheet l W ENTOR.

Nov. 22, 1933.

H. J. WAECHTER WRITING TABLET Filed Oct. 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 22, 1938. H'. J. WAECHTER WRITING TABLET Filed Oct. 5, 1937 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED- STATES this? PATENT OFFICE 2,137,970 WRITING TABLET Application October 5,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a writing tablet for use in combination with a container or carton employed in merchandise packaging, a packet supply of continuous form stationary, either in a single or composite web, the composite web comprising a plurality of superposed strips collocated for form registration.

The packet constitutes a strip or composite web ziz-zag folded, containing a sequence of printed forms or form length sections, defined by weakened transverse tear lines in the strip or web for separating the form lengths one from another as transcribed or filled in. The transverse weakened tear lines usually coincide with the lines of fold. The strip or web is provided with one or a set of apertures for each form length or section utilized for strip feed arresting control and form registration, a feature well known to the art. The apertures in the present instance preferably are incorporated in the weakened tear lines to facilitate in a tear-01f when an extracted portion is pulled across and interrupt-s ed on anon-continuous straight or tear edge.

This stationery is largely used in autographic registers or manifold machines in which the packet after unpackaging is deposited within a compartment beneath a writing table or platen of the machine. A free end of the strip is unfolded from the packet and advanced either manually or by feeding devices over the writing table to support and expose a form length or section for writing, and when filled in, the strip is ad:

Vanced or withdrawn for a determined or measured length for tearing off or dispensing the filled in form or section and appropriately position a successive portion or section in the writing space upon the platen.

The present invention contemplates eliminating the unpackaging of the packet and taking the supply directly therefrom as used, and in which the container or carton is utilized as a casing in combination with a tablet, providing a platen and strip withdrawal control and form registering instrumentalities applied to the carton or container for receiving the strip or composite web appropriately for writing thereon and controlling its sequential extraction. v I

An object of the invention is to provide a tablet of simple design and low cost construction for ready attachment to a commercial paper board container or carton employed in merchandise packaging a packet of continuous form stationcry to equip the same with a writing table for sequentially filling in the forms directly supplied or withdrawn from the merchandising container 1937, Serial No. 167,424

and for controlling the withdrawal and registering the superposed forms upon the writing table.

Another object of the invention is to provide continuous web form stationery folded into a packet with weakened transverse tear-lines, co-

incident with the lines of fold andapertures in the tear-line forcooperating with mechanism in an autographic or like machine to obtain registration of the. printed forms, regulating the withdrawal of the web and to provide tear directioning intervals in the tear line to. accommodate for interruptions in the tear bar of the machine to insure a full severance on the tear-line,

Another object of the invention is to package a composite web of continuous form stationery within a paper board or like container, the web having its leading end in a position ready for service and self-loading within a tablet insertable into the container.

Another object ofthe invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction of the web feed arresting and form registering means, employing one or a plurality of pins engageable through apertures in the web, whereby the pins are actuated to express the same from the apertures and free the web by the act of the operator grasping the leading end of the web for extracting a filled in length or form.

Various other factors and details of the invention are more fully stated in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the writing tablet applied to the closure sleeve of a carton, the sleeve being partly in section and the approximate position of the carton dimensioned from the sleeve and in line therewith for inser tion.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tablet and carton assembled ready for use.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 2. v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of the tablet showing the form strip in arrested position and the extracted. form about to be severed from the strip across the tear bar.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the assembled carton and tablet.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the stop pin mechanism taken on line 56, Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating the manipulation of the stop pin mechanism preliminary to extracting a filled in form'length.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 llustrating the stop pin mechanism in position for arresting withdrawal of the form length when a succeeding set of apertures is brought into registry therewith.

Figure 9 is a view of a portion of the form strip of the present invention, illustrating the arrange ment of the tear-line and apertures.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of carton structure.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view taken on line I l--ll Figure 10 illustrating the manner in which the leading edge of the form strip is tucked into the forward edge of the carton in shipping.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line l2l 2, showing a modified form of writing tablet in place in the carton.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken on line |3l3, Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, the tablet comprises, a body portion formed of sheet material in the shape of a return bend integrally providing a platen l furnishing a flat Writing surface for receiving and supporting a form or section of the leading end of the web to be filled in, and a return tail or tray 2 in a plane beneath the platen and therewith forming a compartment or storage space 3 open at the forward end of the platen for depositing upon the tray the record sheets when filled in and separated from the web. The loop or bend 4 joining the platen and tray serves as a rear wall for the storage compartment or tray, and a curved guide over which the web is directed as unfolded from the supply packet, is stationed beneath the tablet and translated onto the writing platen.

A cross frame 5 is fixed to the forward end of the platen, having an upper cross bar 6 extending transversely across the front margin of the platen and slightly elevated therefrom to bridge the same and therewith provide a throat channel or passageway I through which the web traverses to guide and confine the same.

The frame 5 depends below the writing platen to form a channel or entrance for the storage or filing compartment 3, and an abutment for clasping over a wall of the container or carton, packaging the packet for attaching the tablet to the container.

The upper frame cross bar 6 at its rear edge has an up-turned flange for bar reenforcement and facilitates in threading the leading end of the web into the throat space in loading. The cross bar 6 also provides a support for the web withdrawal arresting or control means, having stop pins or detents engageable through one or a set of apertures in the web when brought into registry therewith during the withdrawal advance of the Web in dispensing or extracting a filled in form and sequentially positioning a successive form in writing position upon the platen.

The stop pins 8-8 are formed integral with and laterally dependingly extend from the forward extremities of a bifurcated hinge plate 9 pivotally mounted upon the frame cross bar 6. The hinging connection of the hinge plate is by means of a pin 9a traversing the hinge plate and having its opposite ends journalled in ears Ill-l ll pressed up from the cross bar 6. The hinge plate is yieldingly urged in a depressed position by a spring l2 housed within a recess in the underside of the hinge plate and coiled about the hinge pin 8, one end of the spring connecting with the hinge plate and its opposite end with the flange of the frame cross bar.

The pins normally intersect the channel or passage 1 and when engaged through apertures in the web, withhold its advance.

The forward edge of the writing platen and the corresponding edge of the upper frame cross bar, are notched for pin clearance and also for a central finger grip access to the leading edge of the web, which has its edge coinciding with the forward edges of the platen and frame cross bar, and therefore require to be notched out to obtain a finger hold upon the web. The said edges respectively are utilized as tear edges for separating an extracted portion of the web along a tear line.

The hinge plate is actuated or manipulated by a thumb lever I 3 pivotally mounted upon the frame cross bar 6 and lies within the bifurcation of the hinge plate 8. It also is bifurcated correspondingly with the notch centrally in the forward end of the writing platen to expose a portion of the leading end of the form -or Web to obtain a finger-grip thereon to extract the same.

The thumb lever is depressed at the time of obtaining a finger-hold upon the leading end of the Web for expressing the pins preliminary to griping the web so that the pins will free the web in advance of an extracting pull. The thumb lever I3 is pivotally mounted upon ears turned up from the frame cross bar 6 and its rear end is projected to contact with the underside of the hinge plate to elevate the hinge plate when the forward end of the thumb lever is depressed.

Upon elevating the hinge plate, the pins are expressed from the web apertures and the operator upon moving his hand forward, permits the thumb to be slipped from its depressing hold upon the thumb lever, releasing the same, in which instance the pins will be urged and bear upon the web, ready to snap through a succeeding set of apertures when brought into registry therewith for a successive web withdrawal arresting interval, the pins limiting a measured length of 7 Web withdrawal, and when engaged through a set of apertures, also function for registering and aligning a successive form or set of forms disposed in writing position upon the platen. The extracted portion of the Web, as a filled-in form length, is then severed from the strip by tearing the same at a tear line which registers with the forward edges of the cross frame and writing table, and, by pulling the extracted portion across either of said edges, a separation is easily effected.

As it is desirable to employ a tearing edge to facilitate in a tear-off operation and avoid administering any translative motion to the web which would thrust the same against the stop pins, tending to mutilate the apertures and destroy the registration of the forms of a successive form in writing position upon the platen, and, as the tearing edges of both the frame cross bar and platen are interrupted or mutilated by the notching, necessitated for manual access to the leading edge of the web for a pull-out operation, it has been found expedient to locate the web arresting apertures in the weakend transverse tear lines, and thereby provide pre-severed portions or intervals in the tear line to accommodate for the interruptions in the tear-off edges of the tablet to insure a separation along the tear line.

The apertures are of a comparatively reduced dimension, relatively closely spaced, and of a configuration to insure a tear or separation along the tear line intervals intermediate or between the perforations, which cannot be brought against a stationery tearing edge, and also not to offer any obstruction or cause tearing of the web in its translation over the edges of carbon-coated sheets or webs interleaved between the plies of the composite form of web or cross members of the table. The drawings do not illustrate the manifolding sheets or transfer medium, nor .any method of disposing the same in an interleaved relationship between the plies of the composite web as several well known methods may be em ployed, or the transfer medium may be incorporated with the stationery for what is known as one-time service, as a ply or part of' the composite web.

In an embodiment of the invention as disclosed, the cabinet is adapted to combine with a commercial type of container or carton employed in merchandise packaging a packet, in order to provide for the use of the stationery directly from its package or container, which thereby is converted into a compact and portable unit. As the table is of simple and inexpensive construction, it can be marketed at an exceedingly low selling price, and then it can be readily and conveniently applied to the packaging container, and, in such combination, offers the same facilities as an autographic register or manifolding machine as now generally employed. A user, because of the cost, is not restricted to a limited number of machines. The tablet is not limited to the particular style of commercial carton illustrated. and slight modifications or adaptations within the concept of the present invention, can be readily made in either thetablet or carton for conveniently making the assembly, depending upon the style of carton desired. The style selected provides for simplicity and ready application, in which the advantages are easily recognized, and. as illustrated, is of two-part construction, comprising, a box member 14, and a tubular sleeve closure member l5 telescopically engaging the box member.

To apply the tablet, the box member is slid outwardly from the tubular closure a distance sufficient for withdrawing a sufilcient length of the leading end of the continuous stationery from the box member and to permit completely inserting the tray portion beneath the upper wall of the closure and within the box member, resting the platen upon the exterior side of the upper wall of the closure and bringing the depending frame at the forward end of the table downwardly over the front edge of the closure and corresponding end of the box member, claspingly applying the table to the closure, with the box member slightly open at its opposite end. The box member is limited against sliding in an opening direction by the forward free end of the tray which the wall of the box member contacts. The leading end of the web is loaded upon the writing table or platen in the usual manner.'the leading end of the web being provided with a stub section to furnish a set of apertures which can be registered with the stop pins for adjusting the foremost form approprir ately over the writing table.

, The web apertures as disclosed in Figure 9 are of small dimension, diamond shaped configuration, as preserved intervals in the tear line and are preferably-located centrally of the width of the web and within the dimension of the cutout or notch in the tearing bar, which forms an interruption in the tear edge. This configuration, it has been experienced, serves very efii ciently for the various functions for which the apertures are utilized. The edges forming an aperture lead to a point in the tear-line, direc tional to initiate a tear on the line so that there is no possibility of diverting the tear from the line. A small aperture is not obstructive in the feed or advance of the web across transverse edges, as an edge of a carbon sheet or web and .the spacing of the apertures in a line is comparatively close to insure a separation along the line intervals between apertures without the aid of a tear edge.

In the modification shown in Figures 10, and 1-3, the tablet comprises a platen 1, tray 2, and cross bar 6, all formed from a single sheet of material. The cross bar 5 is in the form of a reverse inward bend to overlie the head end of the platen and provide an elevated support for the hinge plate 9, carrying the web arresting pins 88 as heretofore described. The fold connecting the platen l and the cross bar portion 6 is longitudinally slotted to provide an opening H5, through which the web is threaded for dispensing the same in cooperation with the pins 88. The metal in forming the slot or opening, for the opposite longitudinal edges thereof is flared forwardly to provide flanges for guiding the web through the opening and forming a pair of tear edges lll'l, across either of which the web can be pulled to effect a tear-off of a form section from the web.

The tray 2 toward its forward end and at its opposite longitudinal margins is provided. with a pair of tangs or tongues l8l8 pressed out of the metal and extending below the plane of the tray, with the forward free ends thereof bent at right angles each to form an abutment, serving as shown in Figure 12, to engage withthe edge of an inturned flange IQ of a carton 26, to

lock the tablet within the carton. The tablet is inserted into an end of the carton by pressing inwardly an upper margin of an end wall. The tablet when inserted is within the combines or contour dimension of the carton, in which instance the leading end of the web can be arranged in a position for self-loading within the tablet between the platen and cross bar, so as to be ready for service and eliminate any man ual loading or starting. It is obvious that many different constructions in cartons may be employed. The forms illustrated are selected so as to disclose the features and advantages of the improvements. In the latter instance the carton is of a knock-down variety provided with a removable cover not shown, and comprises a box portion 2! internally provided with a filler 22, formed of a single paper board sheet scored and folded tor insertion into the box and to form a base section 23 overlying the bottom of the box, and a pair of double wall sides 2d2 which provide longitudinal supports for the tablet i.

An end wall of the box at its upper margin is punched and scored as at 25 to form the flap 19. It is pressed inwardly to make an opening for the insertion of the tablet and looks with the tangs l8 of the tray to secure the tablet within the carton. One of the side walls of the box has a leaf 28 extensive thereof, slightly shorter than the length dimension of the box and folded inwardly longitudinally across the top of the box, the longitudinal free edge having a tuck-in flap 21 extended therefrom, which is folded at right angles to the leaf for tucking into the box. The leading end of the web from thepackage is loaded over the leaf, its forward edge having a loading flapfolded over the forward edge of the carton leaf preferably along a tear line, for clipping the leading edge of the web to the leaf and in a condition to receive the tablet and pass between the platen and cross bar of the tablet ready to be grasped by the operator for extraction of the web.

The web may, as heretofore stated, include carbon coated strips compiled between the work strips or carbon coated sheets, the latter may be secured to the margins of the leaf of the carton and be interleaved between the forms or laminations of the web as brought from the supply package over and upon the leaf or writing platen of the tablet. By this method the work strips and carbon need not be fingered by an operator for loading, the pre-loading being performed by the web manufacturer.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A writing tablet comprising, a sheet metal platen over which continuous form stationery may be drawn and having a return extension spaced from and underlying the platen and joining therewith at the receiving end to provide a record sheet storage department accessible from the delivering end of the platen, register pins at the delivery end of the platen mounted for engagement with and withdrawal from apertures in the stationery and arrest the advance thereof over the platen, and means in parallel with the platen, depressible by the thumb of the operator when in the act of grasping the leading end of the stationery for extraction, for expressing the register pins from the apertures and be released upon advancing the stationery.

2. A writing tablet comprising, a sheet metal platen over which a form of continuous form stationery may be drawn, register pins at the delivery end of the platen mounted for engagement with and withdrawal from apertures in the stationery and arrest the advance thereof over the platen and means mounted parallel with the platen depressible by the thumb of the operator when in the act of form stationery extraction grasping the leading end of the stationery for expressing the register pins from the apertures and be released upon advancing the stationery.

3. A writing tablet comprising, a sheet metal platen over which a form of continuous form stationery, provided with withdrawal arresting apertures, may be drawn, a plate hingedly mounted at the delivery end of the platen carrying pins for engagement with the apertures in the stationery for arresting the advance thereof over the platen and a hingedly mounted thumb piece to actuate said plate to express the pins from the apertures and lying in a plane to be actuated by the thumb of the operator when in the act of grasping the leading end of the stationery for extraction.

4. A writing tablet comprising, a sheet metal platen over which a form of continuous form stationery-provided with withdrawal arresting apertures which may be drawn, register pins at the delivery end of the platen mounted for engagement with and withdrawal from the apertures in the stationery for arresting advance thereof over the platen expressible from the apertures by the operator when in the .act of grasping the leading end of the stationery for extraction and be released upon advancing the stationery, and means extensive of the platen and underlying the same for interfitting with a stationery merchandising packaging container to unite the tablet in combination therewith, whereby the stationery is supplied directly from the carton to the tablet.

5. A writing tablet comprising a sheet metal body formed to provide a pair of superposed planes joined at one end, one providing a platen for supporting continuous web, form, stationery advanced thereover from the joining end of the planes, and the second, a tray for interconnection with a commercial container merchandise packaging a packet of stationery, for temporary attachment of the tablet to the top wall of a container adapting the web as unfolded to be advanced over the platen for transcribing thereon, the web having form registering and Web arresting apertures therein and means mounted at the delivery end of the platen engaging the apertures in the web to control the form registration and web withdrawal, releasable by the operator in the act of grasping the leading end of the web, for and in extraction thereof.

6. A writing tablet for continuous flat packaged form of stationery comprising a body formed from a single sheet of metal and bent into zig-zag form, unitarily providing a platen, a tray beneath the platen, and a cross bar over the forward end of the platen, the fold connecting the platen and cross bar apertured longitudinally for threading the leading end of the stationery therethrough to extract the same from the platen and provide a tear-edge for separating an extracted portion from the web, and web arresting pins supported on said cross bar yieldingly urged for cooperation with apertures in the web, the web longitudinally having apertures at intervals.

7. A writing tablet for continuous flat packaged form of stationery comprising a body formed from a single sheet of metal and bent into zig-zag form, unitarily providing a platen, a tray beneath the platen, and a cross bar over the forward end of the platen, the fold connecting the platen and cross bar apertured longitudinally for threading the leading end of the stationery therethrough to extract the same from the platen.

8. A writing tablet for continuous fiat packaged form of stationery comprising a body formed from a single sheet of metal and bent into zig-zag form, unitarily providing a platen, a tray beneath the platen, and a cross bar over the forward end of the platen, the fold connecting the platen and cross bar apertured longitudinally for threading the leading end of the stationery therethrough to extract the same from the platen and provide a tear-edge for separating an extracted portion from the web, and web arresting means mounted at the forward end of the platen cooperating with apertures in the web, the web longitudinally having apertures at intervals.

9. A writing tablet, for use in connection with a container and continuous stationery zig-zag folded for packaging in the container, unitarily comprising a platen, a tray underlying the platen, and joining therewith at a rear end, and a cross bar overlying the front end of the platen, means carried by the cross bar operable for engaging into apertures in the stationery to withhold its advance over the platen and a container for the stationery providing a support for the tablet, the tray of the tablet providing atongue for engagement into the container interconnecting the tablet and container and adapting the stationery to be supplied from the container about an end of the tablet and over the face side of the platen for transcribing thereon.

HARRY J. WAECHTER. 

